LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 210, 31 May 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

"Many members think that the period of usefulness of tho N.Z.R.S.A. is at an end or coming to an end," says tho animal report of the association, "but to those who have tho welfare of nil exsoldiers at heart, it is only too apparent that thero is 6till much to bo done. All the forces that can be called into play must bo used during the fast approaching session of Parliament to enable all members of your association to get what is due to them. Therefore, let all members keep ns solid a front as possible by seeing that thoir memberships are »c----uowed."

Two trees in the Kliandallah Domain w6re struck by lightning on Friday evening last. Both were found to bo smouldering on Saturday morning. Fortunately forked lightning is a rare visitor in the Wellington district, though at one timo a flash that "earthed" at Wunganui chipped a corner off the base of a big chimney stack at the New Zealand Refrigerating Co.'s works and, travelling along the ground, smashed the windows of an office somo 50 or 60 feet distant.

"I make tho suggestion to sports clubs that they should refuse to play members who do not discharge their obligations under the Defence Act," said Mr. V. 6. Day, S.M., during the hearing of a case against a defaulting Territorial at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court. "Certain cricket clubs did this during the war, and I know of several social "clubs which refused to admit men who failed to join up with the colours. One man was actually blacklxilled from the principal club in Timaru for not joining up.' It would help the authorities considerably if all sports clubs declined to permit men to play who fail to do their drill." ,

To Aro flat was originally a rnupo swamp, a fact that architects would do well to remember in designing the fomdations of big buildings on thoso blocks between Taranaki Street and Kent Terrace, One recent experience brought the above fact home to a firm which is erecting a large factory. Instead of putting in five or six foot foundations the soft, spongy nature of the ground forced the builders to go down thirteen feet before the solid was reachcd. The difference in the cost of the foundations aloiio is estimated to run into four figures.

The dead body of a man named Max Wapper was discovered at 8 o'clock on Saturday morning in the section attached to Young's Private Hotel, at v&ich plaffo tire deceased bad been staying. It is believed that the man's skull was fractured; there was a. wound oil tho side of the face and a severe cut on tho mouth. Wapper was born at Hon, in Esthonia, Russia, on September 25, 1868, and for the past eight years had worked as a fireman on steamers trading to New Zealand. He served for some time in the Russian Navy nnd in 1916 was on the hospittj ehip-Mnr-ama. He had no relatives in Now Zealand. An inquest will be held at 4 p.m. to-day.

A lecture on "Bolshevism at Work" was delivered by Mr. P. Frnser, M.P., at the Alexandra Hall last night before a small audience. Mr. Fraser confined himself to a resume of Principal W. T. Goode's new book on Bolshevism. In the course of a short commentary, Mr. Frnser a.sked hjs audience to put their faith in the Soviet Administrators' own story, and at tho same time to discredit the allegations of the Allied Press.

Speaking with reference to tho Coal Committee's comment regarding the cnal shortage, tl<o Mayor of Petone (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) stated on Saturday that tho committee's estimate of Petone s population—7ooo—was too low. Tho committee had authorised the sale of coal up to 3cwt. lots, the result being that some got a fair supply and a largo proportion got none at ail. The State Coal Depot in Wellington had been, and is now, selling coal in 2cwt. lots. Mr. M'Ewan said that he had forwarded tho following telegram to tho committee:—"lf the Petone dealgts (live) receive same amount of coal as council, total 8t tons, amount of coal for 1700 householders, lewt. per household, per month. State Coal Depot sells iu 2cwt. lots; suggest reduction of State Depot sales to lewt., and send us proportion of balance."

"A farmer must bo something of n philosopher," said Mr. P. Devorill, of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, at the luncheon tendered to tho Lincoln College students, "and must be prepared for disappointments. Farmers, like most others in the community, had a tendency to expect to buy their needs nt pre-war prices, but wanted to sell at post-war values. That could not be done."

Curious tricks are played by the marbles at the ballot which took place on Thursday afternoon for a number of sections which were opened for selection by discharged soldiers (says the "Otago Daily Times")- In on <> instance it was discovered after the draw had 'been made that there had beon one marble too many in the box, And tho scrutineers requested ft fresh ballot. By some strange chanco, however, the result was exactly the same as in the first instance. In another ease an applicant drew second placo no fewor than seven timeß bofore ho finally obtained a "walk-over' for one of tho sections for which ho had applied.

Speaking at a meeting of Auckland watersidors with reference to the influx of Asiatics into New Zealand, Mr. J. Roberts, secretary to tho New Zealand Transport Workers' Federation, said ho believed the flow of Hindus into tho country would undoubtedly reduce the standard of living of the white workers. It would also deal a severe blow at the industrial organisation of the workers. A point to be considered was whether the Hindus were 'being treated fairly in being allowed io come to the Dominion, because they could not compete with the New Zealand workers at the same rates of pay. In his opinion the only way the Hindus could be a factor in the • industrial production of the Dominion was by being paid a much lower wage than tho white workers. That would materially affect the standard of living- of the New Zealand wftrkers, as well as undermining the economic life of the people generally, lteferring to the fact that Asiatics were entering Into competition in. every trade members stntod that tho latest occupa-

tion of the Hindus was that of selling butter.

By special request tho sketch exhibition in tho Art Gallery, Whittnore Street, is to remain open until to-morrow evening. Tho result of the drawing of the. art union is published in another column. Prize-winners are asked tq select their prizes before Tuesday evening. The report of the New Zoaland Returned Soldiers' Association presented to tho annual conference yesterday, made detailed reforence to the land question, and surveyed tho work done by tno association's Land Committee. ''In spito of the numbers on tho landless io!l, it is believed that. about 4000 men have

yet to 'be settled, and it behoves the Government to not quickly and wholeheartedly in tho matter, so that the raveiioui, desiro for land may bo satis-

fied," stated the nport. "The wheels of tho ])and Department movo slowly, and it is economically unsound to have so many men waiting to attain their object. Doubtless a thoroughly svslemahsed organisation of land settle- nnit would attract many more men and the productiveness of a district would be increased many fold."

In the Juvenile Court on Saturday morning, before Mr. E. Page, S.M., a lad just under 1G years of age pleaded guilty to the theft of two revolvors am 1000 cartridges, the property of Leslio Tisdall. Sub-Inspector Bmorson stated that the lad had been employed by Mr. Tisdall, but had remained only a day and a luvlf. After ho loft tho revolvers nnd cartridges were missed, and wero not traced to tho accused until about tho middle of last month, when a man was accidentally shot in the side, tho wound not being sorious, Tho youth, who was then working at Ngaio, was questioned by a constable respecting the revolvers and cartridges. The lad was bfforo tho Court in July last for discharging n firearm, and was placed on probation for three years. The juvenile probation officer (Mr. J. Dineou) said that the lad had not profilod b.v tho chance given hi:n previously, and had given a good deal of trouble. The Magistrate ordered the lad to be sent to ihe Weraroa Training Farm.

A married mail named John Bennett, residing at Island Bny, fell off a motor cyclo in Vivian Street on Saturday afternoon, and received injuries to the head which necessitated his removal to tho Hospital. His condition is not serious,

Tho Postmaster-General has received from the journalists representing the British nnd Australian Pros.? who accompanied His Royal Highness tho Prince of Wales in his tour of tho Dominion a letter in the following terms: "At f'-.o close of our tour through New Zealand accompanying 11. R.H. tho Prince of Wales, we visiting journalists representing the British and Australian Pre c s wish to acknowledge with gratitude the admirable facilities afforded to us by your Department and tho unvarying" courtesy and readiness to assist us shown by all your officers with whom we have come in contact." Tho journalists added an expression of their thanks particularly to a senior telegraph officer (Mr. W. A. Andrews) who was <le'iailed to acoompanv them on their tour and attend to their telegraph requirements.

A 6moko concert was held on l'riday bv tho U.S.S. Company permanent wharf staff in honour of Mr. Harry Somes, vho has resigned from tho company after 25 years' service. Mr. Join Currie, head foreman, on behalf oi the stair, presented ilr. Somes with a case of pipe* and tobacco pouch. During tho evening songs aiul dances were contnbuted by Messrs. Currie. O'Leary, Eraser, Hackctt, Tavlov, Ahern, Lamont, Allen and Captain" Huggins. Messrs. Harms and Lawrence presided at tho piano. The name of the winner of tho boys' soprano section in the Thomas Moore vocal competitions on Friday was John Walters, not Walters, as it appeared in Saturday's Dominion. The e.s. Aorere, which was recently wrecked at the mouth of tho Rangitikoi River, was sold at auction by Messrs. E. Johnston and Co. on Saturday, the buyer being Mr. F. C. Palmer, ol Wangunui, for the. sum of .£75.

In the Supremo Court, in Banco on. Saturdav His Honour Sir John Salroond heard an application oil bolialf of the Lodge Sparking Plug Co., Ltd., for leave to register tho Jiamo or woril "Lodge" as applicable to the Lodge sparking plug as a trade mark under section 64 of the Patents and Trade Marks Act. This sparkinr ping is the invention of Sir Oliver Lodge and the manufacturers and vendors wcro tho •Lodge Sparking Plug Co., Ltd. The application was made on the ground of user in New Zealand for a period of over ten years. Mr.' C. H. Treadwcll appeared for the applicant and Air. J. Prendeville, of tho Crown Law Office, appeared for tho Department and intimated that he did not oppose tho application. His Honour reserved his decision.

The Upper Hutt Valley did not escape the severe storm ou Friday night, mid the hail did not dissolve in.some places until as late as 10 or 11 on Saturday morning.

'' At a meeting of the Thorndon branch of tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants the question of the abolition of workers' tickets on tho tramways was discussed and tho following resolution carried: "That this branch records lis cinpiiatic protest to the Prime Minister against t.ho decision of llie City Council to abolish workers' tickets on tho tramways. Wo earnestly ooint out tho hardship this imposes on workers who ore living in outlying districts. We aro of the opinion • that such _ concessions were granted in order to .miniuiiso congestion in the city, and we request the Prime Minister to withhold granting an Ordcr-in-C'ouncil until the matter is considered by Parliament."

Although the scarcity of houses is still pronounced inquiries mado go to show that there is much les3 property changing hands (says the Christchurch "Sun"). Naturally, the fact that further applications for grants under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act are being entertained by the Government has had its effect on the property market. But even apart from this, land agents say that the demand for tlio purchase of both house and farm property has eased considerably. "There is not now the frenzied buying that there has been, and values aro becoming more stable," eaul one man. He ad<le<l that ho had found that a certain percentage of those who had acquired < homes recently at high pricos were evidently finding it a. struggle to keep up their payments of principal and interest. In a number of such instances the properties are back on (lie .market for resale.

The other day moving pictures were taken of certain parts of the city, including some of tlio slums. Many people in Wellington declare that there aro no slums here, but if thev go to the annual meeting of tho Town-Planning Association this evening, when these pictures will bo shown, they will probably chango their opinion. In addition to 'the pictures and tho usual business there will be musical items. The meeting will be held in the Conference Hall of the Dominion Farmers' Institute at eight o'clock.